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Attack

During a shift change late at night on September 12, 2014, outside the Troop R barracks of the Pennsylvania State Police in the Pocono Mountains in the Township of Blooming Grove, Pennsylvania, a sniper opened fire with a .308-caliber rifle, killing Corporal Bryon K. Dickson II, a 38-year-old Pennsylvania State Police Trooper; and critically injuring Trooper Alex Douglass.

Three days after the shootings, a man walking his dog found a 2001 Jeep Cherokee partially submerged in a retaining pond or drainage basin in a swamp near the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 402 and US Route 6, about 2 miles (3.2 km) away from the crime scene. The vehicle was determined to belong to Frein's parents, and evidence found in the vehicle included Frein's Social Security card, information about foreign embassies, camouflage paint, and bullet casings matched to the shooting.

Perpetrator

Template:Main articleEric Matthew Frein (born May 3, 1983) was the lone perpetrator of the attacks. He led authorities on a 46-day manhunt after the shootings, learning he was on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. A $125,000 reward was offered for his capture.

The police manhunt grew from nearly 200 officers by September 17 to 400 officers by September 22 to nearly 1000 on September 24. Law enforcement officers included local police, state police forces from Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Police believed they saw Frein several times during the manhunt, but each time were unable to approach directly due to the rugged terrain of the area, which allowed Frein to slip away. They believed Frein was taunting them, and Lt. Colonel George Bivens told reporters, "I almost think this is a game to him." A colleague from the MilSim group "Red Alliance" suggested that "If he's re-enacting anyone, it's Rambo from the very first movie," referring to the character of John Rambo in First Blood.

Local resident James Tully, who bears some resemblance to Frein and who walks to work in the area, says he was stopped more than 20 times by officers searching for Frein. He claims one officer pointed a rifle at him and forced him to the ground, leaving him with bruised ribs and in fear that he would be shot.

Frein faces 12 charges, including terrorism and first degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his video arraignment on January 29, 2015. Prosecutors say they intend to seek the death penalty.

Alex Douglass

Trooper Alex Douglass age 31 (at time of shooting) was at his Police car when he heard two gunshots but didn't think anything of it because the barracks was near a fireworks store. He then walked over towards the entrance and saw Corporal Dickson lying in the parking lot not far from the entrance of the barracks. As he stood over Dickson screaming for help he was shot a fell to his knees he then crawled into the Lobby where other troopers and a receptionist call for help and aided his wounds.[2]

Accounts

Alex Douglas told reporters in 2015 that Dickson never moved after being shot and that they other troopers inside were afraid to render aid to Dickson because they thought the gunman could still be outside.[2]

Other officers said that they heard at least 12 shots and the FBI found multiple bullets laughed in walls and a tree behind where Douglas and Dickson were shot.[2]